UK facing
Page 6
Page 7
If you've noticed an error in this article please click here to report it so we can fix it.
import flood?
• By the end of 1986 Britain will be a net importer of heavy trucks, according to Robin Woo!cock, Leyland Trucks' UK Operations Director.
Speaking to delegates at the RHA national conference in Sorrento this week, Woolcock described the situation as "One which would have been inconceivable only 10 or even five years ago."
Woo[cock blames the poor export performance of UK manufacturers and says that despite a brief recovery last year 1986 will show a further decline in exports to below 20,000 trucks in total — less than the number of European trucks imported into the UK.
Truck imports into the UK have grown from 9.4% in 1975 to 37.8% in 1985, and Wool cockpredicts that they will break the 40% barrier in 1986.
"With this trend, and the demise of Bedford 1987 could perhaps see imports at 45%."
"The fact is while Britain is a major export market for Scania, Daf and Volvo we have failed to penetrate their home market and still rely on traditional export territories in Africa and the Commonwealth, reported Woo'cock.
Although there was an increase in UK registrations for trucks above 3.5 tonnes during 1985 to 54,150, Woolcock expects no further growth during this year or in 1987. The total number of trucks running in Britain will also continue to decline he says, "Perhaps as low as 400,000."
Above 15 tonnes GVW, Woo'cock described the market, with the exception of Leyland, as one of total importer dominance, with many continental importers being helped by exchange rate movements. Leyland however is still holding on to heavy truck market leadership says Woo'cock.
By May 1986 the number of people directly employed by UK commercial vehicle manufacturers stood at 47,600 according to Woolcock and this did not include a recent announcement by Bedford to discontinue its volume heavy truck production.